Inspiration found at Mt Bruce

A few weeks in rural Wairarapa may be just what young writer Frances Mountier needed to finish her first novel.

Ms Mountier is this year's recipient of Lavinia Winter Fellowship, which allows her to spend three weeks at New Pacific Studio, near Mount Bruce.

The fellowship is offered in memory of Lavinia Winter, who died at 34 and had a passion for arts and writing.

Just over a week into her three-week retreat, Ms Mountier said it was such a beautiful space to continue working on her novel about a young Christchurch family who grew up through the 1980s and 2000s and live through the earthquakes.

"It's been really great. I have the head space to be able to revise. That has just been awesome."

The 25-year-old was grateful for the opportunity, especially as most fellowships are offered to already established writers.

"I am very grateful to Lavinia Winter's whanau, and to New Pacific Studio, for the fellowship. Starting the year with uninterrupted time for writing in a beautiful location is a huge boost, as is the encouragement of having been awarded the fellowship," she said.

Ms Mountier, originally from Christchurch, said she had been able to do more work than she thought and hoped to submit her novel to a publisher before June.

Ms Mountier will be at New Pacific Studio until January 27.